Mount Assisi Academy English teachers, Ms. Labarge and Mrs. Harris, invite our local heroes to an assembly during Catholic Schools Week on January 31, 2012 at 9:15 am. The Everyday Hero Assembly is to honor the men and women our freshman class chose for their assignment.

In preparation for this assignment the students read To Kill a Mockingbird and examined some of the problems that have faced American society throughout its history. They also examined heroes (both fictional and real) in an attempt to determine what makes a hero. The freshmen then chose a hero in their lives to interview.  The students were so intrigued by the heroic qualities they witnessed, they then wrote articles honoring their heroes and submitted them to local newspapers, CNN Heroes, and Bank of America Local Heroes. The students wanted to portray the outstanding work and the selflessness that their heroes have given to the community.

We have invited all of our local heroes to join us in an assembly that will honor their work. Our heroes include firefighters, police officers, nurses, teachers, probation officers and many more that do so much good for our community.  Ms. Labarge, Mrs. Harris and the freshman class want to thank all that participated in the interviews and look forward to meeting the heroes on January 31st.

Mount Assisi Academy Principal Sister Mary Francis Werner is pleased to announce that six Mount Assisi Academy students have been recognized as 2012-13 Illinois State Scholars.

The prestigious award, given annually by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC),
recognized 17,515 high school students from across the state as this year’s State Scholars.

Illinois State Scholar winners rank in the top ten percent of high school seniors from 773
different high schools across the state. Selection is based on SAT, ACT and/or Prairie State
Achievement Exam scores, and/or class rank at the end of the junior year. High school
guidance counselors work in conjunction with ISAC to determine the winners.

Guidance Counselor Lisa Banner announced, “I am pleased to name the 2012-2013 Illinois State Scholars from Mount Assisi Academy: Samantha Benson (Willow Springs), Clare Kelly (Markham), Christina Peters (Homer Glen), Kortni Springer (Oak Forest), Allison Wheeler (Palos Heights), Rebecca Wood (Lockport). Your commitment to academic excellence and leadership has made your families and the Academy very proud.”

“Illinois State Scholars represent the best in educational excellence in Illinois,” said John Sinsheimer, ISAC Interim Executive Director. “The Commission applauds their success and
salutes their families and the teachers at Mount Assisi Academy on this achievement.”

While the prestigious recognition does not include a monetary award, recipients are encouraged to cite the honor on applications for college admission and scholarships in addition to completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) after January 1 to determine eligibility for federal and state aid, including Illinois’ $420 million need-based Monetary Award Program (MAP).

“Each of the six Mount Assisi Academy students should take pride in their accomplishment and
what it says about their commitment to academic attainment,” Sinsheimer concluded.

Originally formed as the Illinois State Scholarship Commission in 1957, the Illinois Student
Assistance Commission provides students of all ages and backgrounds with the resources and
support to obtain financial aid for higher education. A state agency, ISAC has paved the path to postsecondary education with innovative programs for over 50 years. In academic year 2010, the commission helped make college accessible and affordable for Illinois students by
administering over 199,000 grants and scholarships totaling over $429 million. More than a half million Illinois State Scholars have been recognized by ISAC since the program’s inception.

The Commission provides educational funding via numerous programs such as the Monetary
Award Program (MAP), the Illinois Veteran Grant Program and various other grant, scholarship, loan repayment and prepaid tuition programs. Students and families have free access to a wealth of financial aid and college planning information at ISAC’s family of websites available at www.collegeillinois.org. On Wednesday January 18th, at 7:00 pm ISAC’s District Leader Abel Montoya will provide information about financial planning and financial aid opportunities at Mount Assisi Academy. For more information please call 630.257.7844 ext: 26